The document provides an overview of significant events in Philippine military history from pre-Spanish occupation to the present. It discusses battles that marked the beginning of resistance against foreign invaders like the Spanish. It also outlines the establishment of the Philippine military and its evolution during the American and Japanese occupations. The role of ROTC in developing citizen soldiers and officers for the reserve force is summarized, including its modernization under the National Service Training Program.

1. PHILIPPINE
MILITARY
HISTORY
OVERVIEW OF THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
IN PHILIPPINE MILITARY HISTORY

2. HISTORY DEFINED
o History is any integrated narrative
description, or analysis of past events or
facts written in a spirit of critical inquiry
for the whole truth.
o Military History is officially defined as an
objective, accurate, descriptive, and
interpretive record of all activities of the
Armed Forces in peace and war.

3. PRE-SPANISH
OCCUPATION
Battle of Mactan on 27 Apr 1521
• first recorded organized resistance took place in the
Visayas
• Lapu-lapu: father of AFP
• He fought against the Spaniards led by Magellan
• The foreigners lost in the battle and Magellan was killed.

4. SPANISH
OCCUPATION
• Rajah Soliman: the Muslim leader
• In 1570, he resisted the Spaniards’ efforts to land in
Manila.
• In 1571, Legaspi conquered Manila and made it as
the capital of the Philippines.
• Diego Silang led an uprising which displayed his
exemplary military leadership style and tactics in
defeating the Spaniards.
• Filipino soldiers were also organized to fight for
Spain and to support some expedition.

5. SPANISH
OCCUPATION
• Marcelo H del Pilar, Graceano Lopez Jaena and Jose Rizal:
famous propagandists whose works nurtured the national
spirit.
• Andres Bonifacio: father of the Philippine Army, founded a
more radical group called the “Katipunan” on 7 Jul 1892
• In August 23, 1896, the Cry of Pugad Lawin signaled the start
of the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
• Magdalo led by Aguinaldo and the Magdiwang led by Bonifacio
• On 22 Mar 1897, Tejeros Convention resolved conflict
between the 2 factions.
• Aguinaldo won the presidency and this occasion also gave
birth to Philippine Army.

6. AMERICAN
INFLUENCE
• On 23 April 1898, the Americans convinced to
cooperate with the Americans against Spain.
• Aguinaldo declared war against Spain.
• 12 June 1898, Philippine Independence from
Spain declared in Kawit, Cavite.
• 22 June 1898, the Philippine Navy was created by
the Revolutionary Army.

7. AMERICAN
INFLUENCE
• Treaty of Paris (February 10, 1763): Spain ceded the
Philippines to the United States.
• Finding the archipelago as a lucrative place for some
economic activities, the United States strengthened their
presence in the Philippines.
• This prompted the Filipinos to again unite and fight for the
freedom they have just won.
• The capture of General Aguinaldo by the Americans in
Palanan, Isabela in March 23, 1901 and the laying down
of arms of General Malvar in April 16, 1902 ended the
organized resistance against the American forces.

8. AMERICAN
INFLUENCE
• The Philippine Constabulary was organized on August 8,
1901
• Followed by the establishment of the Philippine Military
Academy on February 7, 1905.
• On December 21, 1935, the National Defense Act was
enacted which created the AFP.
• The Philippine Air Force was later established on July 1,
1947.

9. JAPANESE
OCCUPATION
• Invading Japanese Forces landed in Vigan and Aparri in Luzon
on December 10, 1945.
• Japanese strikes caused the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942
and Corregidor on May 6, 1942.
• Successful come back of the liberating US Forces under Gen
Douglas Mc Arthur who landed in Leyte on October 20, 1944.

10. EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE
ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Commonwealth Act Number 1: National Defense Act
provided the legal basis for the conduct of ROTC
instruction, the need for a citizen reserve force had
been realized as early as before the American
occupation of the Philippines.

11. EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE
ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS
• Fr. Domingo Collantes, OP (University of Sto Tomas)
• He organized a group of around two hundred (200)
students from UST and Colegio de San Juan de
Letran who underwent military training at Sto Tomas
Plaza in Intramuros, Manila.
• Father Collantes was assisted by a sergeant in the
Royal Spanish Army in setting up a battalion of young
students for military instruction.

12. EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE
ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS
• Brigadier General Jose Syjuco, author of the Military
education in the Philippines: most military historians marked
the year 1912 as the beginning of the genuine ROTC
instruction in the country.
• In that year, the Philippine Constabulary (PC) started
conducting military instructions at the University of the
Philippines (UP)
• All able- bodied male students in all colleges, institutes, and
schools of the university were required to undergo military
training that focused initially on infantry and use of rifles.
• Appointed as the first military instructor was Captain Silvino
Gallardo, who assumed office in the first semester of 1912.

13. EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE
ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS
• In 1912, during the American regime, UP and Ateneo de
Manila started to offer military training.
• But their graduates could not find a career in military
unless they joined the PC or the Philippine Scouts (PS).
• Governor General Leonard Wood encouraged the
development of ROTC units, which were quite similar to
those he had organized in the United States.

14. EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE
ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS
• March 17, 1922, the Department of Military Science and
Tactics (DMST) was formally organized in UP.
• Objectives were to:
1) develop patriotic, physically sound, upright and disciplined
citizens;
2) create a corps of trained officers for the reserve force; and
3) take the lead in fostering the university spirit.
• On July 3, 1922, with the first ROTC unit in the country having
been organized, formal military instruction began in UP.

15. EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE
ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS
• The country’s national defense plan was put into motion by the
combined efforts of Gen Douglas McArthur and Manuel Quezon.
• Quezon personally hand-picked Gen McArthur to become the
military adviser of the Commonwealth, with the responsibility of
formulating the Philippine Defense system.
• Quezon later conferred the status of “Field Marshall”, the highest
military rank known in international usage, on McArthur.

16. EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE
ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS
• March 2001 : death of University of Santo Tomas ROTC
Cadet Mark Chua who was allegedly hazed by senior ROTC
cadets for his expose’ of several malpractices in the ROTC
program.
• His death was the strongest clamor for ROTC abolition.
• Republic Act 9163 or National Service Training Program
(NSTP) Act of 2001, making the ROTC as just one of the three
components of the NSTP where the students can choose from.
• The ROTC training period was also reduced from two years to
one year. Students can also select any component of the
NSTP, thus making ROTC optional.

17. NSTP COMPONENTS
1. ROTC - provide military training to students to prepare for
national defense, the Department of National Defense (DND)
implements the ROTC component.
2. Literacy Training Service (LTS) - train students to become
teachers to school children, out of school youth and other
segments of the society who are in dire need of their service, the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) implements the
LTS component.
3. Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), which will involve the
students to activities to contribute to general welfare and
betterment of life, the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) implements the CWTS
component.